University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn MBB Opens 2020-21 Season Against CCSU, Hartford
11/23/2020 11:38:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Atheltic Communications / Nov. 23, 2020
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's basketball team will open this unusual 2020-21 season against two intrastate opponents, meeting Central Connecticut on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Hartford on Friday, Nov. 27, both at Gampel Pavilion. Any future non-conference games will be announced at a later date.
The Huskies, starting their return season to the BIG EAST Conference, will meet Central at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, televised on FS1. It is the 15th overall meeting between UConn and Central, but their first since Dec. 23, 2015.
UConn will then have a quick turnaround, playing host to Hartford on Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m., televised by CBS Sports Network. The Huskies and Hawks have not met on the hardcourt in 12 years.
UConn and Central are meeting for the 15th time overall, with the Huskies holding a perfect 14-0 record against the Blue Devils. The series between the intrastate rivals dates back to 1980, but Wednesday's game will only be the second time that the Blue Devils have visited Gampel Pavilion.
UConn opens the season with seven returnees and six newcomers among its 13 scholarship players. Leading the veterans is sophomore guard James Bouknight, the team's top returning scorer, who was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team, and has also earned a spot on the preseason watch lists of the Naismith Trophy Award and the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
Three other Huskies who finished last season as starters will also be back – senior forwards Josh Carlton and Isaiah Whaley, as well as sophomore guard Jalen Gaffney. Senior Tyler Polley, a starting forward before a season-ending injury last year, junior guard Brendan Adams, and redshirt sophomore forward Akok Akok, still rehabbing after a torn Achilles' tendon last year, are the other returnees.
The newcomers are led by junior guard R.J. Cole, eligible after sitting out last season as a transfer, junior guard Tyrese Martin, a transfer from Rhode Island, freshmn guard Andre Jackson, freshman forwards Adama Sanogo and Javonte Brown, and redshirt freshman forward Richie Springs.
The roster gives UConn Coach Dan Hurley considerably more depth and versatility as he begins his third season at the helm. The Huskies finished last year with a 19-12 mark, their first winning season in four years and closed the season on a five-game winning streak.
Central, out of the Northeast Conference, returns seven of its top eight scorers from last year, which should be a boost for fifth-year head coach Donyell Marshall, the former UConn All-American (1991-94) and one of the top players in Husky history.
Coaching against his alma mater for the first time, Marshall has plenty of experience on the Blue Devils, starting with top returning scorer junior Ian Krishnan, as well as sophomores Greg Outlaw and Myles Baker and junior Karrington Wallace.
As previously announced, UConn's BIG EAST Conference season will begin on Friday, Dec. 11, at Gampel Pavilion when the Huskies play host to St. John's (FS1) at 7 p.m.
UConn will head for Washington D.C. to meet Georgetown on Sunday, Dec. 13 (FS1) at 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, the Huskies travel to Providence to challenge the Friars (FS1) at 7 p.m.
UConn is back at Gampel Pavilion on Sunday, Dec. 20, for a first-ever game against Creighton, starting at noon (FS1).
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, the Huskies will meet DePaul in Chicago (FS1) at 9 p.m.
The remainder of the BIG EAST schedule, as well as any added non-conference games, are to be announced. Schedule changes will be announced as they occur.    Â
